Scanner server apparatus and scanner server system

ABSTRACT

A scanner server is structured to execute, at independent times, prescan process, for storing image data output from a scanner in a prescan for reading an original document image at a low resolution, and a final scan process for storing the image data output from the scanner in a final scan for reading an original document image at a high resolution in accordance with the processing conditions set on the basis of image data stored in the prescan process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scanner server apparatus and ascanner server system which store image data from a scanner forphotoelectrically reading an original image and transfer the storedimage data to a processing apparatus over a network.

In recent years, a plurality of computers are often connected over anetwork so as to facilitate a sharing of data and printer resources. Asa function therefor, the functions of a print server through which aplurality of users share a single printer and a scanner server throughwhich a plurality of users share a single scanner have come to bevalued.

As described above, the scanner server is designed to provide access toa single scanner by a plurality of computers on a network. This makes itpossible to obviate the need to provide a dedicated scanner for eachcomputer and simplifies the system configuration.

Unlike the print server for inputting and storing image data transferredthrough a network and printing out at any desired time, the scannerserver requires a real time characteristic such that when an originaldocument to be read is set in the scanner, the original document imageis read and the image is stored.

Therefore, while the reading and storing of the document image set inthe scanner is being performed in accordance with a command from aparticular computer, the scanner server cannot respond to a request fromany other computer. Further, while a process requiring processing time,such as editing of an image, is being performed by an execution of theimage storage function of the scanner server, requests from the othercomputers are placed in a waiting state until the process is terminated.

Examples of such processes include storing image data, obtained byprescanning an original document image, in a scanner server,transferring the stored image data to a computer over a network anddisplaying it thereon, and setting various processing conditions for thedisplayed image, after which the original document image is scannedagain (the final scan) and image processing is performed on the imagedata obtained thereby.

During such processing, the scanner and the scanner server areexclusively used for that process for a long period of time beginningwith the prescan and continuing until the main scan is terminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in view of the above points. Itis an object of the present invention to make it possible for a scannerand a scanner server to efficiently operate.

It is another object of the present invention to improve the useefficiency of a scanner server which is connected over a network.

It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible toperform a prescan and a full scan at any desired independent time.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided ascanner server apparatus for storing image data from a scanner forphotoelectrically reading an original document image and transferringthe stored image data through a network, wherein a prescan process forstoring image data output from the scanner in a prescan for reading theoriginal document image at a low resolution, and a final scan processfor processing image data output from the scanner in a final scan forreading the original document image at a high resolution in accordancewith the processing conditions set on the basis of the image data storedin the prescan process can be performed at independent times.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda scanner server system comprising: a scanner for photoelectricallyreading an original document image; and a scanner server for storingimage data output from the scanner and transferring the stored imagedata through a network, wherein the scanner is capable of performing aprescan for reading an original document image at a low resolution and afinal scan for reading the original document image at a high resolution,and the scanner server is capable of performing a prescan process forstoring image data output from the scanner in a prescan for reading theoriginal document image at a low resolution, and a final scan processfor processing image data output from the scanner in a final scan forreading the original document image at a high resolution in accordancewith the processing conditions set on the basis of the image data storedin the prescan process at independent times.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, for the purposeof preventing an inadvertent deletion of the image data which is outputfrom a scanner and is stored, there is provided an apparatus,comprising: storage means for storing image data output from a scannerfor photoelectrically reading an original document image; transfer meansfor transferring the image data stored in the storage means to aprocessing apparatus through a network; and prohibition means forprohibiting the deletion of the image data stored in the storage means.

The above and further objects, aspects and novel features of theinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network system;

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a digital color copying machine;

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a client computer;

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a scanner server;

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a feeder;

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a raster image storage section;

FIG. 7 shows a scan application image screen;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a list of prescanned images;

FIGS. 9A-9D show the structure of the whole and the header section of anetwork packet;

FIGS. 10A-10C show the structure of a data block section of the networkpacket;

FIG. 11 shows the structure of a consecutive network packet;

FIG. 12 shows the structure of a prescan management table; and

FIGS. 13 to 19 are flowcharts illustrating the operation and controlprocedure of a server system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedbelow in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a scanner server system according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment comprises a digitalcolor copying machine 1000 consisting of a digital color image readingsection (hereinafter referred to as a color scanner) 100, a circulatingreflective document feeding apparatus (hereinafter referred to as afeeder) 1200 which is set at the reading position of the color scanner100 in the upper portion of the digital color copying machine 1000, anda digital color image print section (hereinafter referred to as a colorprinter) 300 for printing out a digital color image, a scanner server200 connected over a network 1, and computers 400 of a plurality ofclient users.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of the digital color copying machine 1000having a scanner/printer function and the construction of the feeder. Inthe color scanner 100, a scanner controller 101 is the control centerand performs the following control.

An original document on a document holder is color-separated for eachcolor of RGB by means of a contact-type CCD line sensor inside anexposure system controller 103 and is converted into dot sequentialanalog image signals. These analog image signals are converted intodigital image signals of 8 bits for each color by an A/D conversionsection also inside the system controller 103, and each color of RGBwhich indicates luminance is output as a line sequential signal. Thisimage signal (digital) is converted by an image processing section 102from a luminance level of RGB into a level corresponding to the toneramount of four colors of CMYBk which indicates density. At the sametime, a color correction computation is performed by the imageprocessing section 102 on the signal, and various image processings,such as synthesis, scaling, or movement, are performed.

There is also provided an operation panel/touch sensor 107 whichfunctions both as an operation panel for displaying a message for theuser and as a touch sensor for instructing an operation. An operationpanel controller 106 controls the touch sensor 107.

Set on the top of the document holder of the color scanner 100 is thefeeder 1200 which is controlled by a feeder controller 105 inside thecolor scanner 100.

A guide plate for regulating the direction along the width of thedocument is provided on a carry tray 201 on which a bundle of originaldocuments are set so that the original documents are not skewed when thedocuments are fed, and the original documents are made to slide and movevertical to the direction in which the original documents are fed. Aslide volume is operated in linkage with the movement so as to detectthe size (length) along the width of the original document.

FIG. 5 shows the construction of the feeder 1200. Initially, originaldocuments are separated one by one w from the bottommost part of thebundle of original documents set on the carry tray 201 by means of asemicircular roller 203 and a separation roller 204. While the separatedoriginal document is passed through path I, the paper width along thedirection of paper feeding is detected by a contact-type paper-widthsensor 212 provided in path I. The original document is passed throughpath II by a transport roller 205 and an entire-surface belt 206 and istransported to the exposure position of a platen glass 214 and stoppedthere.

After color-separation scanning by the contact-type CCD line sensor, theoriginal document on the platen glass 214 is returned to the topmost ofthe bundle of original documents of the carry tray 201 again by a largetransport roller 207 and a paper ejection roller 208 (the entire-surfacebelt 206 and a paper-ejection roller 211 in the case of originaldocuments of a small size).

At this time, with a recycle lever 209 being placed on the top of thebundle of original documents at the start of document feeding, whenoriginal documents are fed in sequence, and the bottom end of the finaloriginal document goes through the recycle lever 209, the document goesdown onto the carry tray 201 by its own weight. Thus, one cycle of theoriginal document is detected.

The case of two-sided original documents will now be described. Afterthe scanning of a first side is completed in the manner described above,the original document is passed through path III once, and a rotatableswitching flapper 213 is switched, thereby guiding the top end of thedocument to pass through path IV. After the original document is passedthrough path II by the transport roller 205, the document is set on theplaten glass 214 by the entire-surface belt 206. That is, the rotationof the large transport roller 207 causes the original document to bereversed in the route of path III-IV-II. Thereafter, scanning of asecond side is performed, and the original document is ejected in thesame way as that described above.

It is also possible to count the number of original documents by thepaper-width sensor 212 by causing a bundle of documents to pass throughpath I-II-III-V-VI one by one to be transported until one cycle isdetected by the recycle lever 209.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in a color printer 300, each of the digitalimage signals of C, M, Y and Bk received from the color scanner 100 isconverted into a turn-on signal of a semiconductor laser section by aprinter controller 301. The laser is controlled by a laser drive section310, and the turn-on signal of the laser is output as a pulse widthcorresponding to the level of the digital image signal. The turn-onlevel of the laser has 256 levels (corresponding to 8 bits). The lasercorresponding to this digital image signal is scanned by a polygonscanner drive section 311, and a color image is exposed in sequence foreach color of C, M, Y and K in a digital dot form onto a photosensitivedrum 315 charged by a charging section 313 controlled by a surfacepotential control section 312. After the color image is developed usingeach color toner by a development section 314, paper is fed from a papercassette 323 under the control of a paper feeding control section 318and the color image is transferred a plurality of times to a sheet ofpaper attached to a transfer drum 319 by means of a transfer section316. Thereafter, the sheet of paper separated by a separation section320 is transported by a transport section 321, is finally fixed by afixing section 322, and is ejected onto a tray 324. In this way, anelectrophotographic laser beam printer is formed.

The color scanner 100, the feeder 1200 and the color printer 300function as a digital color copying machine 1000 by controlling thefeeder 1200 and the color printer 300 under the control of the colorscanner 100.

When functioning as the digital color copying machine 1000, an originaldocument image is set on the platen glass 214 of the color scanner 100,and the copying start key displayed on the operation panel 107 ispressed. Thereupon, after passing through processes, such as reading ofan image from the color scanner 100, image processing, and exposure,development, transfer and fixing in the color printer 300 in accordancewith the above-described processes, an image is formed and output as acolor copy.

FIG. 3 shows the construction of a client computer 400 on a network.

The client computer 400 comprises a network controller 420 forcontrolling a protocol on the network with the scanner server 200, a CPU405 for centrally controlling the client computer, a memory ROM 406 inwhich control programs of the CPU 405 are stored, a hard disk 451 fortemporarily storing image data and storing various data, a hard diskcontroller 450 for controlling the hard disk 451, a main memory 460, amouse 431 serving as instruction input means from an operator, akeyboard 441, a keyboard/mouse controller 430 for controlling thekeyboard and the mouse, a color display 412 for layout, editing and menudisplay, a display memory 411, a display controller 410, and an imageediting controller 413 for performing image layout and editing on thedisplay memory 411.

FIG. 4 shows the scanner server 200 through which the digital colorcopying machine 1000 is connected to the network.

This apparatus can be broadly classified into the following elements:

(1) a main controller 210 for controlling the entire scanner server 200in accordance with programs stored in a memory ROM 261;

(2) a network controller 220 for controlling the protocol process on thenetwork, and a network server controller 221 for performing control as aserver, for example, the analysis of the contents of the packetextracted in accordance with the protocol, and the separation of imagedata; and

(3) the raster image storage section 700 for storing and managing colormulti-valued raster image data and the position and attributeinformation thereof and for making a layout of image data on the basisof the separated image data and command data.

The interface is comprised of a color digital interface controller 790for exchanging image data and commands through both-way communicationswith the digital color copying machine 1000, a mouse 244 and a keyboard245 serving as instruction input means from a server administrator, akeyboard/mouse controller 243, a color display 242 for layout, editingand menu display, a display memory 241, and a display controller 240.

Further, a hard disk 231 and a hard disk controller 230 are alsoprovided to store image data or the like.

FIG. 6 shows the construction of the raster image storage section 700inside the scanner server 200.

This raster image storage section 700 includes a main image controller710, which is the functional center, for controlling the entire rasterimage data, a memory management controller 720 for efficiently arrangingand managing color raster image data in a raster image memory 760, and amanagement table 770 thereof.

Also serving as the functional centers are an image editing controller730 for performing image conversion relating to color, andexpansion/reduction/shape alteration editing onto image data which hasalready been entered or is entered onto the memory from the colorscanner 100, and a layout controller 750 for performing layout editingin real time when the image data is output to the color printer 300.

When outputting the image data on the memory, a color print image can beobtained by transferring the image data to the color printer 300 via thecolor digital interface controller 790. Further, image data can be inputfrom the color scanner 100 and entered onto the memory via the colordigital interface controller 790.

The image data and commands are exchanged between the raster imagestorage section 700 and the scanner server 200 according to a specificformat, and information is exchanged between the main image controller710 and the main controller 210 via a bus controller 740.

This raster image storage section 700 is able to manage image data inboth of a file management mode and a page mode.

In the printer output, the file management mode of the first modefunctions to store and manage a plurality of image data. Layout is madefor each of a plurality of entered image data in accordance with acommand from the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 and isoutput to the color printer 300 via the color digital interfacecontroller 790, and thus a color print image can be obtained.

In such a case, the plurality of image data are managed as image filessuch that the raster image memory 760 is divided into a plurality ofareas for each file. The start address of the memory, the image datalength, the attributes of the image data, the positional information ofthe layout output of the image data and the like are entered in theposition and attribute information table 770, and this table is managedby the memory management controller 720. Then, when the image data isactually output, image conversion relating to the color of the enteredimage data is performed by the image editing controller 730. Further,when making a layout output, expansion/reduction/shape alterationediting is performed by an layout controller 750 in order to make theimage reach a specified position and size, and the image data is outputto the color printer 300 via the color digital interface controller 790.Therefore, since the original image data is always in the memory, theimage data can be output by changing the layout output format.

In a scanner input, the file management mode stores and manages aplurality of scanner input image data in the same way as in the printoutput. At this time, it is also possible integrate image data for aprint output and image data for a scanner input.

The image input from the color scanner 100 is managed similarly to thecase of printing, that is, such that the raster image memory 760 isdivided into a plurality of areas. The start address of the memory, theimage data length, the attributes of the image data and the like areentered into the attribute information table 770, and this table ismanaged by the memory management controller 720.

When the image is actually input, image conversion relating to the colorof the scanner input image data input from the color scanner 100 isperformed by the image editing controller 730. Further,expansion/reduction/shape alteration editing at the input time isperformed by the layout controller 750 in order to make the image to aspecified input size, and the image is entered onto the raster imagememory.

In the page mode, another memory management mode, the raster imagememory 760 is handled as one sheet of paper, and the memory is managedby width (WIDTH)/height (HEIGHT). When a plurality of image data is eachlaid out on the memory, expansion/reduction/shape alteration editing andimage conversion relating to the color of the image data are performedby the image editing controller 730 and the image data is located at thelayout memory on the specified image memory.

The image data is placed at the position and made to a size specified bythe layout controller 750 in this way, and the image data is output tothe color printer 300 via the color digital interface controller 790, orthe image data is entered onto the image memory at a size specified bythe color scanner 100.

On the network on which the client computer 400 and the scanner server200 are connected to each other, a data string, called a packet, shownat FIG. 9A is used as a single block, and packets are exchanged mutuallyto perform communication between the client computer 400 and the scannerserver 200.

The structure of the packet will now be described. The network addressof the destination party (partner address) is set at the beginning ofthe packet, followed by the network address of the origination party,and then the information of the packet type and frame size of the packetis set, followed by the actual packet data, and finally an error checkof CRC (cyclic redundancy check) called a tailer is set which improvesthe reliability of data transfer. The contents of the packet datasection 10002 are shown at FIG. 9B. Although any data can be placed inthe packet data section 10002, in this embodiment, the packet datasection 10002 is divided into a header section 10003 and a data blocksection 10100 as shown in FIG. 9B.

The contents of the header section 10003 of the packet data section10002 are shown at FIG. 9C. In the header section 10003, a header code10019 which indicates header information is set at the beginning of theheader section 10003, followed by a function code section 10020indicating what functions this particular packet data has, then followedby a consecutive packet ID10030 indicating the ID of consecutive packetswhich form one data from a plurality of packets as shown in FIG. 11, atotal packet ID10031 indicating the total number of packets thereof, anda data length 10032 indicating the length of the data of the data blocksection 10100 where actual data is located.

The contents of the function code section 10020 are shown at FIG. 9D.The function code section 10020 consists of function ID10021 indicatingthe type of the scanner server, a job type ID10022 indicating the typeof the job for the server, and job ID10023 which identifies a job to beperformed.

Next, the contents of the data block section 10100 of the packet datasection 10002 are shown at FIG. 10C. As shown in FIG. 10C, the datablock section 10100 is divided into a command block 10005, a statusblock 10006, an image data block 10007, and an image information block10008 according to the contents of the uniquely determined job typeID10022 of the function code section 10020 of the header sectionID10003.

FIG. 13 shows a general flow for the operation procedure by the user ofthis scanner server system.

The scanning operation procedure of the scanner server systemconstructed as described above will now be described with reference tothe flowcharts of FIGS. 14 to 19.

Initially, the operation of the scanner controller of the digital colorcopying machine in a scanner input application process will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

The user presses the <scanner input application> key on the operationpanel 107 of the digital color copying machine (step U1). When this keyinput is recognized (step S1), the portion where the user ID is to beinput shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the operation panel 107 (step S2).The user, using this display, inputs his/her uniquely determined user IDby using the 10-keypad on the operation panel 107. Further, the userspecifies the original document attribute, i.e., whether the originaldocument is a one-sided original document or a two-sided originaldocument, by pressing the touch sensor of the operation panel 107 (stepU2). When the user presses the ID confirmation button (step U3), boththe user ID and the original document attribute are recognized by thescanner controller 101 (steps S3 and S4). The scanner controller 101requests the main controller 210 to issue the scanning application ID(step S5). In response to this application, the main controller 210searches a prescan management table 262 and returns a scan applicationID which is not in use to the scanner controller 101. The scannercontroller 101 causes the operation panel controller 106 to display theapplication ID on the operation panel 107.

Next, the user sets a bundle of original documents to be scanned on thecarry tray 201 of the feeder 1200 (step U4). At this time, the guideplate is brought into alignment with the original document in order toprevent skew of the original document, and the paper width of theoriginal document along the width thereof can be detected. The scannercontroller 101 detects the setting of the bundle of original documentsonto the carry tray 201 (step S6).

After confirming the setting of the bundle of original documents, theuser presses the prescan execution button of the operation panel 107(step U5). The scanner controller 101, confirming an input from theoperation panel controller 106, performs a prescan process (step S7).The details of the prescan process are shown in FIG. 15.

When an “on” condition of the prescan execution button from theoperation panel 107 is recognized (step S20), the user ID and thescanner application ID are sent out to the main controller 210 of thescanner server 200 via an interface controller 104. As a result, themain controller 210 enters the user ID scanner application ID in aprescan management table 262 having the structure shown in FIG. 12 (stepS21).

The main controller 210 counts up the total number of prescan managementdata 262-1, searches for a prescan management table data 262-10 which isnot in use, and sets the ID value of the table in a user ID 262-11 and ascanner application ID 262-12 within the data of the table.

Further, the main controller 210 confirms that it is operating in theabove-described file management mode and sets the prescan image locklevel 262-14 of the above-described allocated prescan management tabledata to a numeric value indicating a uniquely determined level at whichthe prescan image file cannot be deleted (step S88).

When the prescan image lock level 262-14 of each management data withinthe prescan management table has been set to a level at which theprescan image file cannot be deleted, the main controller 210 searchesthe table to check if the image file ID of each of the prescan and thefinal scan is the same as the entered image file ID within the prescanmanagement table and forms an image file ID which is not the same as anyother image file ID (step S22). Using this ID, the main image controller710 sets up this ID as an image file ID into the memory managementcontroller 720 in order to enter image data which is input via theinterface controller 790 from the color scanner 100 in the prescan. Forthis reason, the prescan image files can be held as much as the capacityof the raster image memory 760 permits and can be controlled with noduplication with the settings of other users.

This ID is entered in sequence for the number of original documents in aprescan image file ID 262-20 within the prescan management table 262-10of FIG. 12.

When the above process is terminated, the main controller 210 of thescanner server 200 first sends a command for setting the recycle lever209 to the scanner controller 101 of the digital color copying machine.When the setting command is recognized, the recycle lever 209 is setonto the topmost of the bundle of original documents on the carry tray201 by the feeder controller 105, and a setting completion code isreturned to the main controller 210 of the scanner server 200 (stepS23).

Next, the scanner controller 101 sends a command for setting thebottommost sheet of the bundle of documents at the exposure startposition of a platen glass 131 (step S24). The feeder controller 105sets the original document on the platen glass 214 in accordance withthe above-described process by driving the feeder 1200. At this time,the paper width along the paper feeding is detected (step S25) and thenumber of sheets of passed original documents (step S26) is counted bythe paper-width sensor 212 provided in path I.

In this way, the original document is set on the platen glass 214 by thefeeder 1200 (step S27). At this point in time, the main controller 210triggers a scanner input to the color scanner 100 of the digital colorcopying machine 1000 via the color digital interface controller 790(step S28). Thereupon, the color scanner 100 performs color-separationreading of the original document at a resolution lower than that of thefinal output by the final scanning. The scanner server 200 obtains theoriginal document as RGB image data for a prescan and stores the RGBimage data on the raster image memory 760 (step S29). At this time, thelayout controller 750 converts the input image data in real time on thebasis of the size of an image having a low resolution which ispredetermined as the image attribute of the prescan, and each parameterof the color balance/image data type (RGB). Thereafter, the RGB imagedata is transferred to the raster image memory 760, and the fact thatthe image has been stored is entered in the position attributeinformation table 770 corresponding to the image file ID which wasdetermined previously and managed.

After the above entry of the data, the original document on the platenglass 214 is returned back onto the topmost of the original documentsafter passing through path III-V-VI by the feeder 1200 (steps S80, S83and S84). However, in the case where the scanning of a first side of atwo-sided original document is terminated, after passing through pathIII, the original document is guided to path IV by a switching flapper213, and is set onto the platen glass 214 being reversed (steps S80, S81and S87). Then, after scanning the image of a second side of thetwo-sided original document by the color scanner 100 (steps S27, S28 andS29), the original document is reversed again in accordance with theabove-described procedure and returned back to the topmost of the bundleof original documents (steps S80, S81, S82, S83 and S84).

Prescanning for one sheet of original document is performed in theabove-described procedure, and the procedure for entering the prescannedimage is repeatedly performed fully automatically up to the finaloriginal document set in the feeder 1200 (step S85).

Whether all of the original documents have been prescanned is detectedby the feeder controller 105 on the basis of the fact that the recyclelever 209 fully goes down on the carry tray 201 on the feeder 1200, andthe scanner controller 101 transmits the total number of originaldocuments to the main controller 210 when all the original documentshave been completely prescanned. In response to this transmission, thetotal number of original documents 262-13 of the prescan managementtable 262 is updated (step S86). This terminates the prescan process(step S7).

When the prescanning of all of the original documents has terminated,the user removes the bundle of documents on the feeder 1200 (step U6).The scanner controller 101 recognizes that the bundle of documents hasbeen removed (step S8).

In the above-described prescan process, it is not necessary formonitoring, editing or a final scanning of the prescanned image to beperformed. Therefore, since the bundle of documents can be removed atthis point in time, it is possible for other users to use the digitalcolor copying machine locally as a copying machine (step U7).

At this point, even if the user of another client computer 400 performsthe above-described prescan procedure or the final scan, which will bedescribed later, to perform a prescan and a final scan, if the prescanimage lock level (262-14) of each management data within the prescanmanagement table has been set to a level at which the prescan image filecannot be deleted, the main controller searches the prescan managementtable to check if each image file ID of the prescan and the final scanis the same as the image file IDs within the prescan management tableand can set an image file ID, which is not the same as any other imagefile ID.

In the above-described way, the image data read in the prescan is storedin the raster image storage section 700 of the scanner server 200.Thereafter, it becomes possible to perform a process for an image to befinally scanned in accordance with monitoring of the prescanned image oran editing command using the prescanned image at any desired time. Thefinal scan process will now be described. The user performs a clientcomputer process (step U8) and a final-scan preprocessing operation(step U10) while monitoring the preview display of the prescanned image.The details of the final-scan preprocessing in accordance with the aboveoperations are shown in FIG. 16. Software for a scanner input(hereinafter referred to as a scanner driver) is loaded onto the mainmemory 460 from the hard disk 451 on the client computer 400 (step U8),and the scanner driver is executed by the CPU 405 (step S31).

The user selects a scanner server which is a subject for the scannerdriver and inputs the user ID and the scanner application ID obtainedearlier on the operation panel 107 of the digital color copying machine1000 from the keyboard 441. The scanner driver inputs this inputinformation (step S32).

At this point, the scanner driver instructs the network controller 420to communicate with the network controller 220 of the scanner server 200(step S33).

Then, the scanner driver transmits a prescan information request (stepS34). That is, on the basis of the network address of the scannerserver, which is entered beforehand in the client computer, the networkcontroller 420 sets the destination party address of a packet base 10001and sets the ID of the color scanner which is determined uniquely as anID for identifying functions into the function ID10021 of a headersection 10003 in order to show that the execution form is related o acolor scanner. Job ID10023 is set to 0 since no job as been determinedyet, and a uniquely determined ID indicating the data block of thecommand is set in job type ID10022.

Set in a data block section 10100 at this time are a <prescaninformation request> command and the user ID and the scanner applicationID which are the parameters of the command.

Then, the client computer 400 transfers this packet data to the colorscanner 100 via the network controller 420.

On the scanner server 200 side, the main controller 210 separates thecontents of the packet into the header section 10003 and the data blocksection 10100, analyzes the contents of the data block section 10100 tobe a command, and performs a process in accordance with the command.

Initially, the main controller 210 searches the prescan management table262 for a corresponding table data on the basis of the user ID and thescanning application ID which are the parameters of the data blocksection 10100 (step S35). On the basis of the contents of the foundtable data, status information data is formed which consists of the userID and the scanning application ID, the total number of originaldocuments/file ID of the prescanned image/the paper size code of eachprescanned image/prescanned image size (Width/Height), and the errorcode (step S36).

This status information data is set in the data block section 10100 ofthe packet data, the job type ID10022 within the header section 10003 isset to be the ID of a status block 100066 which is uniquely determinedand is returned back to the client computer 400 described earlier (stepS37).

On the other hand, when the subject prescan entry table data was notfound, a uniquely determined error code is set (step S51) and isreturned back to the client computer 400 which issued the <prescaninformation request> command (step S52). The client computer 400performs error handling in accordance with the error code (step S53).

The client computer 400 separates and analyzes the contents of thepacket data which was returned back from the scanner server 200 in thesame way as in the above-mentioned scanner server 200 and obtainsinformation, such as the prescan image file ID of a plurality ofprescanned original documents and the total number of original documents(step S38).

In response to this, the client computer 400 transfers the plurality ofprescanned image data in sequence from the scanner server 200 onto theclient computer 400 (step S39). For this purpose, initially, the <imagedata GET> command is issued to the scanner server 200 on the basis ofthe above-described command issuance procedure. As a command parameterfor such a case, the above-described prescanned image file ID is set.

In response to this command, in order to transfer the prescanned imagefile data corresponding to the image file ID to the client computer 400,the scanner server 200 sets the total number of image data blocksequivalent to the size of the image data in the total packet ID10031 ofthe header section 10020 and the image is transferred by attaching asuccessive packet ID in sequence to the image data blocks as a series ofimage data packets from the raster image memory 760.

These image data packets are sent to the client side in sequence in thesame way as in the above-described transfer of packets, and the imagedata packets are transferred to the hard disk 451 of the client andstored therein (step S40).

The processes of steps S39 and S40 are performed in sequence on all ofthe prescanned image files of the prescan information table (step S41),and image data for preview is obtained on the client computer 400.

The client computer 400 which has obtained the image data for previewreads prescanned images in sequence from the hard disk 451 in order todisplay a preview image for the above-described total number of originaldocuments and develops the prescanned image on the display memory 411via the display controller 410 in order to display the window on thedisplay 412 (step S42). The display contents take the form illustratedin FIG. 8A. Shown on the window in that figure are the ID (or an alias)of the scanner server, user ID ID802, a scanner application ID ID803,the total number of original documents 804, and a list of individualpreview images 807 for the total number of original documents (step U9).Thus, the user is able to confirm individual prescanned images of thebundle of original documents.

Next, the user selects one prescanned image by using the mouse 431 fromamong the list of the preview images 807 in order to select the inputrange, the resolution of the input image and the image type (RGB,GrayScale, Bitmap or the like) for the individual prescanned imagesdisplayed on the display 412 (step U10). The CPU 405 recognizes thisselected information (step S43).

When one of the previewed images is selected, a window for specifyingvarious settings before a final scan (fully scanning an image) isperformed is displayed (step S44).

This window consists of a prescanned whole image 853, a confirmationbutton 851 and a cancel button 852, a variator 855 for specifying theresolution for a final scan, and a button 856 for specifying image type.The user herein specifies the range of the actually necessary portion ofthe whole prescanned image by moving the mouse 431 (step S45). In thiscase, a frame 854 indicating the range to be scanned is displayed andmoved as the mouse 431 is moved. The area coordinates at this timeconstitute the positional information of SX, SY, WIDTH and HEIGHT of thescanner input coordinates.

After specifying this reading range, the user selects the resolution atthe final scan reading and the image type from among RGB, GrayScale andBitmap by using the same image screen (steps S46 and S47), and pressesthe confirmation button 851 of <OK>. This determines the preprocessesrelating to the one original document.

The series of preprocesses are performed on all of the prescannedimages, and when this is terminated, the final scan execution button 805of FIG. 8A is pressed (step S48).

This terminates the preprocess of the final scan. Then, a final scanrequest is made by the operation of the <Scan> button 805 (step S10).

The details of the issuance of the final scan request command are shownin FIG. 18.

When this final scan execution button 805 is pressed (step U11 asdescribed above, the CPU 405 of the client computer 400 sets in the datablock section the <final scan request> command and the user ID and thescanner application ID which are the parameters of the command, and theinput area coordinates (SX, SY, WIDTH and HEIGHT), the input resolutionand the image data type which are set for each prescanned image by theuser for this time. Then, the client computer 400 transfers this packetdata to the scanner server 200 via the network controller 420 (stepS61).

The scanner server 200 searches the prescan management table inaccordance with the transferred packet data (step S62). If no subjectprescan management table data is found or the scanner server is beingused by another user, a uniquely determined error code is set (step S65)and the error code is returned back to the client computer 400 which hasissued the <final scan request> command (step S66). The client computerreceiving this error code performs error handling (step S67).

The search of the prescan management table by the scanner server 200will now be described in detail. In the scanner server 200, the <finalscan request> command is received via the network controller 220, andthe contents are analyzed in the above-described way. Here, the maincontroller 210 searches for the contents of the prescan management table262 on the basis of the user ID and the scanning application ID. When itis confirmed that there is relevant table data, the input areacoordinates (SX, SY, WIDTH and HEIGHT), the input resolution and theimage data type for each prescanned image for the purpose of the finalscan are set in the final scan image coordinates (SX, SY, WIDTH andHEIGHT) 262-29, 262-30, 262-31 and 262-32, the input resolution 262-27and the image data type 262-26 of the corresponding table data withinthe prescan management table 262.

Thereafter, the network controller 220 enters the wait state until afinal scan request is received from the scanner controller 101 of thedigital color copying machine 1000 (step S64). This terminates the finalscan application process.

On the client computer 400, after the final scan button 805 is pressed,when the scanner driver confirms that no error has been returned fromthe scanner server 200, the scanner driver displays a message windowindicating that the final scan has been reserved for the user.

At this time, the user sets the bundle of original documents prescannedearlier in the feeder 1200 of the digital color copying machine in thesequence as they were (step U12). The scanner controller 101 recognizesthe setting of the bundle of original documents on the carry tray 201(step S11). Then, the <scan input execution> key is pressed and the userID and the scanning application ID are input on the operation panel 107(step U13). Then, by pressing the <confirmation> key (step U14), thefinal scan operation is started in accordance with the parameters set inthe client computer 400 by the user (step S12).

The final scan process will now be described with reference to FIG. 19.

When the scanner controller 101 recognizes that the <confirmation> keyhas been pressed on the operation panel 107, it requests the maincontroller 210 of the scanner server 200 to check if there is data ofthe prescan management table 262 corresponding to the user ID and thescanning application ID which have been input by the user. If there iscorresponding data, in order to enter the finally scanned image data inthe raster image memory 760, the main controller 210 sets the image fileID when the image data is entered in the memory management controller720 to any desired image file ID, and sets it to a final-scan image fileID 262-28 of the prescan management table 262 as well.

Next, a command for setting the recycle lever 209 of the feeder 1200 isissued to a scanner controller 110 and a feeder controller 150 of thedigital color copying machine 1000 (step S71). In this way, as in theabove-described prescan process, the feeder 1200 sets the originaldocument on the platen glass 214 (step S72) and triggers the scannerinput.

In such a case, the layout controller 750 sets the parameters of thefinal scan range (SX, SY, WIDTH and HEIGHT), the input resolution andthe image data type corresponding to the sequence of the originaldocuments set earlier by the client on the basis of the prescanmanagement table 262 corresponding to the user ID, and the scanningapplication ID. The layout controller 750 performs conversion based onthe parameters on the input image data in real time, transfers andenters the finally scanned image received from the scanner controllerinto the raster image memory 760, and enters the image in the positionattribute table 770 corresponding to the previously set image file IDand manages it (step S73).

When the image is entered, the main controller 210 of the scanner server200 sets the finally scanned image file ID and the parameters of theimage size (WIDTH and HEIGHT) within the status information data withrespect to the client computer which has issued the <final scan request>command and returns back the packet data in order to notify the clientcomputer 400 of the fact that the first original document has beenfinally scanned (step S74).

The client computer 400 issues the <image data GET> command to thescanner server in accordance with the above-described command issuanceprocedure (step S75). As a command parameter in such a case, the finallyscanned image file ID in the above-mentioned status information is set.

In response to this command, in order to transfer the finally scannedfile data corresponding to the image file ID to the client computer, thescanner server 200 attaches a successive packet ID to an image datablock from the raster image memory 760 in sequence as in theabove-described transfer of the prescanned image and transfers the imagedata blocks as a series of image data packets, as shown in FIG. 11 (stepS76).

The client computer 400 transfers these image data packets to the harddisk 451 of the client in sequence in the same way as in theabove-described transfer of packets and the image data packets arestored therein (step S77). In such a case, the scanner driver changesthe image data packets to a fixed image file format at the same time.

The above procedure is repeated for the number of pages of the originaldocuments of the prescan management table 262, and the final scan isautomatically performed on the bundle of original documents on thefeeder 1200 (step S78).

When all of the final scannings have been terminated, the maincontroller 210 changes the corresponding prescan image lock level 262-14within the prescan management table to a level at which the prescannedimage and the finally scanned image file can be deleted (step S90).

As described above, after the prescanned image lock level is set to anunlock state, the main controller 210 deletes the corresponding enteredprescanned image file and finally scanned image file from the positionand attribute information table 770 of the raster image memory 760 onthe basis of their respective IDs (step S91). As a result, other usersbecome able to use that image area.

Regarding the above-described prescan management table corresponding tothe user of the prescan management table, it is possible to setbeforehand whether the table data should be kept after the finalscanning and whether the prescanned image should be kept or deletedafter the final scanning as described above.

The finally scanned image data entered into the hard disk 451 can befreely processed by the user on the client computer 400.

As has been described up to this point, since the prescan process andthe final scan process are completely separated, it becomes possible touse the copying machine locally during the time between the processes,and it becomes possible to perform a job of a scanner input requiring areal time characteristic among a plurality of users.

Further, since, for example, the lock function of the image file can beused, it becomes possible for the copying machine to be used locally byother users without damaging the prescanned image between the prescanprocess and the final scan process of original documents of a pluralityof pages, which processes are completely separated, it becomes possiblefor other users on the network to perform a prescan process and a finalscan process, and it becomes possible to perform a job of a scannerinput requiring a real time characteristic among a plurality of users.

Many different embodiments of the present invention may be constructedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Itshould be understood that the present invention is not limited to thespecific embodiment described in this specification. To the contrary,the present invention is intended to cover various modifications andequivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereafter claimed. The scope of the following claims is tobe accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications, equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scanner server apparatus, comprising: storagemeans for storing image data of an original document image scanned at alow resolution by a scanner; transfer means for transferring the imagedata stored in said storage means to a processing apparatus through anetwork for previewing the original document image at the processingapparatus; receiving means for receiving a final scan request from theprocessing apparatus through the network; control means for controllingthe scanner so as to finally scan the original document image at a highresolution in accordance with the final scan request received by saidreceiving means; and control means for prohibiting the deletion of theimage data of the low resolution stored in said storage means until theoriginal document image is finally scanned at the high resolution by thescanner and for deleting the image data of the low resolution stored insaid storage means after the original document image is finally scannedat the high resolution by the scanner in accordance with the final scanrequest received by said receiving means.
 2. A scanner server apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: table means for storing theattributes of the image data stored in said storage means, said tablemeans storing data indicating whether or not deletion of the image datashould be permitted.
 3. A scanner server apparatus according to claim 1,wherein when a process relating to the image data stored in said storagemeans is completed, a state by which the image data cannot be deleted isreleased.
 4. A scanner server system, comprising: a scanner for scanningan original document image; storage means for storing image data of theoriginal document image scanned at a low resolution by said scanner;transferring means for transferring the image data stored in saidstorage means to a processing apparatus through a network for previewingthe original document image at the processing apparatus; receiving meansfor receiving image processing conditions for the previewed originaldocument image from the processing apparatus through the network;processing means for processing image data of the original documentimage scanned at a high resolution by said scanner in accordance withthe image processing conditions received by said receiving means; andcontrol means for prohibiting the deletion of the image data of the lowresolution stored in said storage means until the image data of the highresolution is processed by said processing means and for deleting theimage data of the low resolution stored in said storage means after theimage data of the high resolution is processed by said processing meansin accordance with the image processing conditions received by saidreceiving means.
 5. A scanner server system according to claim 4,wherein said storage means stores image data of a plurality of originaldocument images scanned at the low resolution by said scanner.
 6. Ascanner server system according to claim 4, further comprising printingmeans for printing an image based on the image data processed by saidprocessing means.
 7. An image processing method for a scanner serversystem comprising a scanner for scanning an original document image, anda server for storing image data from the scanner and transferring thestored image data to a processing apparatus through a network, saidimage processing method comprising: prescanning at a low resolution anoriginal document image by the scanner; storing image data of theprescanned original document image in the server; transferring thestored image data of the prescanned original document image to theprocessing apparatus through the network; receiving image processingconditions for the prescanned original document image from theprocessing apparatus through the network; finally scanning the originaldocument image at a high resolution by the scanner; processing imagedata of the finally scanned original document image in accordance withthe image processing conditions received from the processing apparatus;prohibiting the deletion of the stored image data of the prescannedoriginal document image until the original document image is scanned atthe high resolution by the scanner; and deleting the stored image dataof the prescanned original document image after the image data of thefinally scanned original document image is processed in accordance withthe image processing conditions received from the processing apparatus.